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A Portsmouth-born star is still looking for a new club after leaving Turkish giants Besiktas in August.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is training with former club Arsenal as he the Portsmouth-born winger continues with his attempts to find a new club.
The 35-times capped England international had spent the last two years with Turkish giants Besiktas, but his contract was terminated earlier this season after weeks of speculation over his future in Istanbul.
Despite links with a number of clubs - including Pompey’s Championship rivals Birmingham City - Oxlade-Chamberlain has returned to Arsenal to train with Mikel Arteta’s squad almost 14 years after he initially featured alongside the current Gunners boss during their time at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking of the decision to allow the former Gunners and Liverpool star to train with his old club earlier this week, Arteta said: ‘Top. Top character. One of the best characters I’ve met in football. If we can help him and give him the space for him to get up to speed and have the capacity to find a club. It’s a joy, the boys will learn from it. I had the privilege to play with him and if he is around he will be a really good role model to have around the team.’
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been linked with several Championship clubs in recent months after his departure from Besiktas was confirmed in August - but as yet, the former England international remains as a free agent.
There were suggestions newly-promoted Birmingham and the winger’s former club Southampton were looking to hand him a route back into English football, but no offer was forthcoming.
Oxlaide-Chamberlain’s Pompey ties
Although there is no indication of interest from Pompey, the Premier League champion and three-times FA Cup winner does have close family ties with the Fratton Park club. His dad, Mark Chamberlain, became a firm favourite during a six-year stay at Fratton Park between 1988 and 1994 and his brother, Christian, was a Portsmouth academy product and is currently playing for National League club Truro City.
John Mousinho is yet to resolve the issues he has on the right wing following Matt Ritchie’s departure on a free transfer during the summer - although injuries suffered by Callum Lang, Adrian Segecic and former Crystal Palace youngster Franco Umeh have not helped the situation.
Conor Chaplin and Mark Kosznovszky have both been shoe-horned into the right-hand side of Mousinho’s attack but have struggled to make an impact in an unfamiliar position. Meanwhile, Harvey Blair and Florian Bianchini have both made fleeting appearances.
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